The Caledonian Sleeper!

[KindergartenKop]

I want to go on the Caledonian Sleeper! I need help working out the rest though, please advise me!

I'd like to go on the train with 7 and 10 year olds and hire a car once there and then drive somewhere interesting (don't want to drive for more than about 90 mins) for a week or so. Does anyone have any suggestions?

We did this! We got the train to Aviemore and then rented a car there. We had a brilliant time!

@evilpea We live near Surrey. I bet that tabby who bullies my cats is a wildcat!!

I have just read the reviews on Trip Advisor,there are a lot of bad ones!

@Plantsandpuddlesuits

Its on my bucket list to do a sleeper train to Scotland, don't know why but it sounds so romantic!

It's funny how different things are to people. When I have to use the sleeper (sometimes it's the best option time wise if I need to travel to London) I absolutely hate it. Nothing romantic about it for me, but I have done it often and it's just the same as any other train/bus/plane journey to me.

Not been by sleeper train, but the kids would enjoy Landmark Adventure Park, the mountain gondola, a boat trip on Loch Ness and maybe a dolphin boat trip on the Black Isle near Inverness.

The sleeper is a brilliant way to travel to the Highlands from London if you fancy an adventure / something different and memorable.

I stay in the Highlands and Inverness would offer plenty to see and do round about if you plan to hire a car.

When do you plan on visiting?

[quote KindergartenKop]@evilpea We live near Surrey. I bet that tabby who bullies my cats is a wildcat!![/quote]
Ahh if you live near Surrey and haven’t visited here. You must
britishwildlifecentre.co.uk/

It’s just lovely.
Not the same as visiting them in their native Scotland. But still well worth a visit.

I took my then 4 and 7 year old on the sleeper to Inverness. Was fantastic. They were so excited and it really extended the fun of the holiday into the travel days too. They often mention it and we all want to do it again despite the several hour delay for the train departing London!
Definitely go to Landmark Park too!

How annoying are the midgies? Are they everywhere? Would they spoil a holiday?

The midges can be pretty awful, honestly. You need to get high up so there's wind, or outpace them. August is one of the worst times of year for them unfortunately. Damp locations are worst.

This youtube link gives some examples of how it can be at worst
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scottish+midge+attack

Even the horses where midge nets. I used to work outside in the Highlands and there were times when I wore a full midge net myself.

They can vary over the days/weeks from slightly annoying but copable, to horrific. Not much really works against them, but some people are more susceptible than others, and if you're allergic it can be very unpleasant.

DH laughed at my warning of midges until he first went walking in the Highlands and then he was shellshocked.

*wear

Midges can be horrific out if it’s raining or windy completely vanished.

From FW there’s lots you can access by train or bus.

Go to Mallaig and take a boat to the small isles

Get a bus to one of the ski centres (glencoe or Nevis range) and use the lift to get up the mountain for views.

Hire mountain bikes

Get the train back to corrour and do one of the easy munroes or just walk around loch ossian